Sweden is prominent for its exceptional international education system besides the liberal government, high level of living, security, and beautiful scenery. International students can enjoy an absolutely new culture while living in one of the secure countries.
The Swedish education system is structured in four main parts; Preschool education, Primary and lower secondary education, upper secondary education and higher education. A child has to enroll in his sixth year. It is a mandatory preschool year which is fixed by the Swedish Education Act.
In Sweden, attending secondary school is optional and the municipality will follow up with students who won’t pursue secondary education until the age of 20. In the upper secondary school, students are given a total of seventeen different national programs to choose, in addition to local programs or individual tracks. Undergraduate, graduate and are offered by universities.
Various worldwide leading companies have their headquarters in Sweden which points out that studying in Sweden will be fruitful in terms of promising careers.
History of Swedish Education
Sweden’s educational background is very old and it has a very complex history. To know the History of Swedish Education we have to go back to late 1800. The parliament in Sweden in 1842 introduced the first educational system of a four year primary education. Later, after a few years, 2 grades were gradually added with the previous one.
Level of Education
Every country has its own structure of education which varies from country to country. In Sweden, there are mainly four educational stages. Let’s take a step-by-step look at each one:
Preschool education
In Sweden, the preschool system is free for all families for children aged one to six. Preschool is open to children as early as one-year-old however, parents in Sweden have the choice of enrolling their children in preschool rather than daycare because school is not required until the age of six.
Primary and lower secondary education
Upper secondary education
Every university requires a complete certificate of students’ upper secondary education for further education.
In Swedish upper secondary education, there are seventeen different national programs to choose from, in addition to local programs or individual tracks to build a student’s learning style and career goals. Twelve of the national programs are vocational, while six are meant to prepare students for further study. Secondary education offers programs for preparation such as-
- Sociology,
- Physical Science,
- Entrepreneurship and Economics,
- Technology,
- Arts,
- Humanities
The eleven other career-focused courses are-
- Engineering and Electrical Systems
- Construction Projects
- Vehicle and Transport
- Social and Medical
- Child Management
- Business Administration
- Natural Resource Management
- Restaurant Management
- Technology
- Property Management
- Tourism and Hotel Management
Higher Education
Swedish higher education is top-notch among the international students. Majority of universities focus on the students’ research and study in detail. The Swedish Higher Education is structured into three parts. Such as:
- Bachelor’s level which is the first cycle
- Master’s level which is the second cycle
- Doctoral level which is the third cycle
Most Popular Universities in Sweden
Sweden can be an amazing destination for you if you are an international student and in search of university for your higher education. Amongst the top universities the following marked ones are listed in the World University Rank.
| University Names | Location | Ranking in Sweden | THE Ranking (2023) |
QS Ranking (2022) | Global Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karolinska Institute | Stockholm | 1 | 49 | 51 | 74.9 |
| Lund University | Lund | 2 | 119 | 95 | 69.0 |
| Uppsala University | Uppsala | 3 | 148 | 128 | 67.8 |
| Stockholm University | Stockholm | 3 | 176 | 153 | 67.8 |
| University of Gothenburg | Gothenburg | 5 | 250 | 185 | 66.6 |
| KTH Royal Institute of Technology | Stockholm | 6 | 155 | 89 | 61.0 |
| Linkoping University | Linkoping | 7 | 330 | 320 | 57.0 |
| Chalmers University of Technology | Gothenburg | 8 | 337 | 125 | 56.7 |
| Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | Uppsala | 9 | 356 | N/A | 55.8 |
| Umea University | Umea | 10 | 369 | 369 | 55.5 |
Most popular programs in Sweden
Swedish people are experts in various fields and are technologically advanced. As a result, Sweden’s top courses are focused on a plethora of fields. The following list includes the top Swedish courses for students:
| Popular Program | Course Duration | Available in |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | 3 years (Bachelor) 2 years (Master) |
Kth Royal Institute Of Technology, Lulea University Of Technology, Jonkoping University |
| Computer Science and Technology | 3 years (Bachelor) 2 years (Master) |
Kth Royal Institute Of Technology, Uppsala University, Umea University |
| Business Administration | 3 years (Bachelor) 2 years (Master) |
Uppsala University, Karolinska Institute, Lund University |
| Arts | 3 years (Bachelor) 2 years (Master) |
Lund University, Uppsala University, Stockholm University |
| Mathematics | 3 years (Bachelor) 2 years (Master) |
Lund University, Uppsala University, Stockholm University |
| Architecture | 2 years (Master) | KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Chalmers University Of Technology |
| Law | 1- 2 years (Master) | Umea University, Stockholm University, Uppsala University |
Swedish Online Degree
If you are thinking of improving your skills and boosting your experience then online education is one of the easiest mediums for you. Online education has become one of the most popular educational systems among students. It is the way through which you can continue your job without shifting. Through online education you will get one of the prominent degrees just attending classes sitting in front of your laptop. All you need is a good internet connection.
Swedish Universities offer excellent online programs in Europe and the world. The notion of online education is expanding vastly especially after the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. Picking an authorized Swedish University will be the best way to build a promising career if anyone wants to earn a Sweden-approved degree without shifting from one country to another. Different institutes offer different facilities to the online degree holders.
Best Cities for International Students
Sweden is known as one of the highly demanding countries in terms of higher education. Some areas are best known for international students and higher education. They are:
Stockholm
Lund
Gothenburg
Uppsala
Funding and Scholarships for international students in Sweden
Career Building and Work Permit
FAQs
Conclusion
The Swedish education system is worldwide famous for international degrees. Some students may find Sweden a bit high in cost of living but it is worth it when you count the entire achievement after finishing your degree.
The standard of Swedish education is increasing and improving day by day. Hence, this is the main reason for the increasing number of applications in Swedish universities.
If you have any question regarding Sweden’s education system you are invited to comment below.
